Two senior executives at the Serious Fraud Office were promised £15,000 each
to prevent them suing the financial crime-fighting agency after they were
accused by staff of cronyism and misuse of public funds.

The SFO’s director, Richard Alderman, authorised the payments after being told
they could claim up to £72,000 in an employment tribunal because of flaws in
the way the Government handled the allegations against them, a senior
insider said.

The settlements were part of a controversial “unauthorised” £1 million
severance package the SFO gave to Phillippa Williamson, its former chief
executive, and Christian Bailes, its chief capability officer,